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Fountain pens and ink?
mcnicks | Apr 30 2006
Another pen question! I have been experimenting with rollerball type pens and I just cannot settle with them. I have a terrible tendancy to squeeze my pens and place too much pressure on the paper, and anything that encourages me to do that is out. So I have decided to experiment with fountain pens. The first major stumbling block I have is being left-handed. That means I am likely to encounter issues with writing angle and with smudging. However, at least I know that fountain pens require much less pressure to write with, so I am willing to give a few a go. So far, I have unearthed an old fountain pen of mine and some even older ink. After a bit of a clean, it is writing fairly well and, as long as I keep my wrist rotated, I can write legibly without smudging everything. The main problem is that the profile of the pen, where the cap fits, requires me to hold it a bit too close to the nib, which pulls my posture in and brings my hand round to smudging territory. Its still nice to write with, though. I am now on the lookout for fountain pens that write well at different angles, and that are not averse to being pushed across the page by left-handers. I am also hoping that fountain pen inks may have improved over the past 20 years (yes, the last time I dabbled with fountain pens was when I was a teenager). Do any of you have any suggestions? David 72 Comments
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 A Pelikan M200 can interchange...Submitted by bugginot on May 9, 2006 - 12:20pm.
A Pelikan M200 can interchange nibs while a M150 cannot. For example if I bought my M200 with a medium nib, I could later just by a Fine Nib -screw out the old Medium Nib and replace with the Fine nib. This also leaves the possibility of getting good customised nibs (specifically from the way you write) from a person who makes them. Although you can always send the whole pen in you can just get the nib sent which is easier. I'd recommend the M200 as it is more expandable. The M250 is a Chrome version of the M200 Namiki VanishingPoint is a Fountain Pen that retracts like a Ball Point which may be appealing to you (like you click it and the nib appears, click again it goes). The Nibs can also be bought seperately and replaces like the M200. I have one and personally don't like where the clip in positioned however the Nibs are extremely smooth and I have heard a lot of people are satisfied with them. Pretty expensive but can be got much cheaper than listed price if you know the right online shops like most Fountain Pens. Rotring Core Another love it or hate it pen. I HATE the grip on this pen and the size of the nib but it is a cheapy and a lot do love it. Other Tips Improving Flow- Flow of ink not too good? Get a cocktail stick and dip it into some washing up liquid (detergent in America?) and you'll have a TINY (YOU ONLY NEED A TINY BIT) on the end of it. Now dip this into your Converter/Ink Catridge and mix it a little and you should noticed a more wetter/improved flow. Mixing with water does not improve flow. Making nibs smoother- Say you buy a nib and it's a bit scratchy. Get a Brown Paper Bag and write on it with the Fountain Pen nib and draw Figure of 8's etc and it should become smoother. Credited to "OldGriz" at the link I gave in my first post earlier. Other Quick Drying Inks Specially formulated (and exclusive inks) at Swisher Pens are meant to be fast drying specifically for left handers etc (www.swisherpens.com) I know Gulfstream Blue is one and they're some others. Catridge/Converter Catridge is easier/quicker/potentially less messy/often cited as having better flow however Catridge is less economical/less choice of colours/can't recycle? :P Converter is potentially more messy/less convenient etc however they're A LOT more colours and choice (such as Noodlers) and you don't have to use the specific catridge as Parker cartridge is different to Lamy for example. Best of both worlds? Refilling Catridges is more than possible and commonly practiced however I'll get into that more if anyone wants to know. Edit: Lots of grammatical/spelling mistakes but I have to write these posts in about 3 minutes so I apologise in advance. » POSTED IN:
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